The Mercenaries (aka Commadoes), as their name suggests, a group of mercenaries working for the Aesir Corporation.
Description[]
The mercenaries, similar to the Killer Suits and the Aesir Security, are part of the security forces serving Aesir Corporation and take part in two primary missions: the protection of the Cold Steel complex, and later the infiltration of the Asgard Building.
They are always seen wearing tactical gear, including dark pants and shirt, a vest, black gloves, and a black ski mask. In addition to their outfits, their gear also suggests a methodical approach to combat, laying out laser-emitting booby traps, keeping in radio contact, as well as covering nearly every room of the locations that they are supposed to protect or infiltrate.
They are one of the hardest types of enemy to beat as they are heavily armed, have more health, and seem to have higher accuracy than previously-encountered enemies. The only enemies that seem to pose more of a threat are the Killer Suits and the Aesir Security guards, as they have significantly better aim, the most powerful weapons in the game (though the mercenaries, Killer Suits and Aesir Security usually have share the same weapons), and used dodge-rolls, which the mercenaries don't do, like the mobsters.
History[]
Take Me to Cold Steel/Hidden Truths[]
Main articles: Take Me to Cold Steel and Hidden Truths
First seen during Max's infiltration of Cold Steel, they are almost immediately aware that Max is on the premises, and go on alert. While they are fairly passive in searching for the intruder at first, as soon as Max begins engaging with them, the mercenaries begin to actively search for him, and activate Operation Dead Eyes in order to stop Max from finding out the secrets of the facility. They lay down laser-emitting booby traps that explode, cover nearly every room in the facility with decidedly more powerful weapons (such as the Colt Commandos) than Max is used to.
As Max goes deeper into the complex, the amount of mercenaries increases, using their firepower and traps to stop him from going further. When Max reaches the elevator to head down to an Army bunker beneath Cold Steel, mercenaries pour from the elevator in a last-ditch effort to stop him. Max overcomes them and proceeds down the elevator.
The Deep Six[]
Main article: The Deep Six
After Max descends in the elevator, he witnesses two Killer Suits executing a mercenary, as they explain that 'Operation Dead Eyes' means the destruction of everything related to Cold Steel; evidence and witnesses alike. For the rest of the chapter, the remaining mercenaries are seen attempting to flee the complex, only engaging with Max if they see him.
In the Land of the Blind/Byzantine Power Game[]
Main articles: In the Land of the Blind and Byzantine Power Game
The next time that Max runs into the mercenaries is when they storm the Asgard Building and assist the Killer Suits in the elimination the Inner Circle and Max himself. During a meeting with Max, Alfred Woden and his colleagues, a pair of Killer Suits storm the meeting room and seemingly kill everyone there, except Max who jumps out of a nearby window. After Max escapes from the room, he has to go the long way around to the exit of the building, taking down any mercenaries that stand in his way. After shooting down over a dozen mercenaries, Max makes his way to the lower levels of the building. From there, he goes back to the upper levels from the other side of the building through a multi-story library and stairwell.
As Max reaches the entrance hall, the remaining mercenaries and Killer suits attempt to stop Max from leaving alive, but he is able to overcome them. After Max leaves the Asgard Building, the mercenaries are never seen again, presumably due to Max taking them all down or, because of their lack of success in their previous duties, they were simply seen as unreliable and were fired by Nicole Horne for their incompetence.
Equipment and Tactics[]
Mercenaries wear a standard uniform consisting of a dark tactical vest worn over dark fatigues, with a black balaclava worn over their head and face. Due to their body armor, they are more durable than the mobsters of the Punchinello Crime Family, requiring about 10 shots of 9mm pistol fire or 5 shots from their own Colt Commando assault rifles to bring down. They are also more accurate than mobsters, and carry grenades more frequently. Additionally, they are much more heavily armed, being equipped with military-grade weaponry. Most Mercenaries wield the Colt Commando assault rifle, with some equipped with Pump-Action Shotguns or Desert Eagle pistols. A few Mercenaries carry Sniper Rifles during the attack on the Asgard Building. Mercenaries use professional tactical chatter, make heavy use of laser tripmines to lock down areas, and generally position themselves to fully cover the areas they guard, making it very rare to sneak up on them. Overall they are a significant step up in threat compared to the mobsters that Max has been facing previously.
Trivia[]
- If a mercenary, is killed by a Grenade and M79 Grenade Launcher, they share the same death sound from Punchinello's thugs, like the Killer Suits.
- Like the same way, but if they killed by a Molotov Cocktail, they share the Punchinello's thugs death sounds when they on fire, alongside with Killer Suits.
- The Mercenaries are the first group of enemies in Max Payne to wear bulletproof vests.